As A Parent, The Live-Action How To Train Your Dragon Movie Was Way More Emotional Than I Expected

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I haven’t been a fan of the animated “How to Train Your Dragon” movies, and when the highly anticipated live-action remake was added to the 2025 movie lineup this year, I unfortunately missed it. However, after hearing numerous positive reviews, I decided to watch it once it became available for home release. Over the weekend, my family and I watched this entertaining family film, and while I expected it to be enjoyable, captivating, and magical, its emotional depth took me by surprise.

In this kid-friendly movie, I expected to find moments of emotion amidst the big action sequences and stunning visuals. But instead, it struck a poignant chord within me, almost like an arrow piercing my heart.

Going In, I Thought The Movie Would Just Be About Vikings Fighting Dragons

Upon venturing into “How to Train Your Dragon” (having not previously watched the DreamWorks animated series), I initially anticipated it would be a large-scale film about Vikings battling dragons. Indeed, the movie does feature Vikings uniting to combat various dragons that wreak havoc by snatching their food supplies, causing fatalities among families, and incinerating villages.

Initially, I wasn’t exactly sure about what the film would offer, but I assumed it would be a couple of hours filled with Gerard Butler exuding charisma in his fur-layered and striking helmet, guiding his people towards a brighter future. Meanwhile, his on-screen son would be searching for an alternative solution to the dragon predicament. However, the movie turned out to be so much more than that…

Instead, This Is About A Father And Son Repairing Their Fractured Relationship And Overcoming Grief

The heart of “How to Train Your Dragon” revolves around a struggling father-son relationship between Stoick the Vast (played by Gerard Butler) and Hiccup Horrendous (Mason Thames). Both men grapple with mending their strained bond and dealing with loss in distinct manners. Initially, their methods often fail to bridge the gap, causing them to drift even farther apart throughout the movie, and later, after Hiccup’s secret training of Toothless comes to light.

After discovering the compelling dynamic between father and son, I was immediately captivated and eagerly followed along with the story. To be clear, there were other heartfelt aspects within this film, but the tale of two individuals seeking purpose in life following an immense loss truly resonated deeply.

I Don’t Know If The Animated Movies Are This Emotional, But Now I Want To Check Them Out

Although I haven’t had the chance to watch any of the How to Train Your Dragon animated films, I’m eager to change that soon. Surprisingly, these movies are new additions to our family’s movie collection that my kids haven’t seen yet. So, I believe they could provide an exciting Friday Movie Night for all of us. Frankly, spending quality time watching movies with my children is something I genuinely enjoy, especially when we’re experiencing something fresh together.

If you’ve never seen the movie “How to Train Your Dragon” and are searching for a film that has won over both viewers and critics alike, perhaps you should consider adding it to your watchlist!

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2025-08-21 16:08